Development of Phyllostachys edulis Inflorescences

The development of Phyllostachys edulis inflorescences was studied by observing phenotypic changes in the wild and taking paraffin sections to research internal development. The main results showed that P. edulis had a iterauctant (or false) inflorescence, the basic inflorescence unit was a spikelet, with 4-13 spikelets arranged to one side in a spicate inflorescence, which had an average length of 8.01 cm. When the P. edulis inflorescences expanded to 4-5 cm, lateral buds formed, development of the spikelet primordium began, different spikelet levels were formed, and the spikelet primordium stopped developing until the apical and lateral spikelets appeared. When the inflorescence expanded to 8-10 cm, glumous flower primordium began to differentiate and develop, and became a complete floret with three stamens and one pistil in the end. The initial stage of inflorescence formed in mid-May to June, during which time bracts would tightly wrap the spindle, and leaves at the top of the inflorescence would also become narrow. With the development of spikelets and florets, the leaves would turn yellow, inflorescences would turn brown, after which the plant reached the mature stage and would begin to produce seeds. This study reported on the inflorescence development of bamboo for the first time, further enriching bamboo reproductive biology research and accumulating material for reproductive biology studies on Bambusoideae and Gramineae.